PMDC to derecognise substandard medical, dental colleges

Islamabad
The Management Committee of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) on Tuesday held an interactive session with the heads of the country's private sector medical and dental educational institutions, including vice chancellors, principals, deans and owners.
Addressing the participants, PMDC Management Committee Chairman Major General (r) Dr. Azhar Mahmood Kayani said that all stakeholders’, whether public or private, need to join hands and put combined efforts for improving the standards of medical education in the country and avoid conflicts on petty issues that damage these institutions badly and also the image of PMDC. He apprised the session about the decisions which the management committee has already taken.
He said that the Management Committee will not compromise on the quality and laid down standards of the medical and dental colleges. He said all the colleges who will not improve their working standards, will be closed down and strict action in this regard will be taken without any compromise. He further said it is time that all colleges should start nurturing their quality of studies. He emphasised that all the stakeholders of private medical and dental colleges to ensure not to take any political or influential pressure against merit and should put their house in order. He also added that all the medical and dental colleges should have reserved beds in their hospitals for poor patients, who cannot afford expenses for hospitalisation.
He informed the session that the Management Committee has decided that seats in all the medical and dental colleges must be maintained as per seat allocation by the PMDC, irrespective of public or private entity. He directed all colleges not to charge extra fee from the students under the head of donations etc., and charge only prescribed fee by the council.
He added that government will be engaged to ensure that the number of medical or dental graduates being produced in the country to commensurate with employment opportunities for doctors. Currently this number is far above and giving rise to restlessness and frustration in the youth of our country.
The participants of the session showed their confidence in the Management Committee and appreciated the measures taken so far. They also appreciated the committee for taking them on board and promised their full support and cooperation.
The chairman added that PMDC is the regulatory body and this is the only council of the country and no stone will be left unturned to improve its image, standards and affairs.
While addressing the queries of the participants, Management Committee apprised the session that all concerns about representation of all stakeholders in conduction of elections of new council raised in the session will be shared with the federal government. Effective coordination among National institutions like PMDC, HEC, CPSP etc. will be ensured. More than 80 vice chancellors, deans and principals of private medical and dental colleges, attended the session.